How do I host my own website?

vigour

I know that this is a little off topic. My plan is to host my own website with a mySQL database and PHP. Maybe I will use Apple X-Serve.

I want to learn how to do this in a simple way. I have lots of experience when it comes to my SQL and PHP, but I'm missing the hosting bit. Can someone please point me in the right direction?

rulian

You mean host it in your own computer at home or work?

You need:
A broadband connection with a static IP (that doest block ports)

A router (I recommend a cheap one that can be flashed and upgrated) to route port 80 ( so that you have at least minimal protection)
Webserver Software, never used X-Serve, but Apache is widely used and free
Mysql & PHP

This is kinda of a simplified, minimal list but in essence its all you need to make a web server.
Depending on what you are looking to do, basic broadband like DSL or Cable will suffice

Ilyes

Install wampserver at wampserver.com
if you use router, then in its parameters, use Port forwarding, from a port of your router to a port in your PC.

NogDog

Ilyes;10885251 wrote:
Install wampserver at wampserver.com
if you use router, then in its parameters, use Port forwarding, from a port of your router to a port in your PC.

While that would work (as would using XAMPP for non-windows platforms), it is not particularly secure if you use its default configurations, so would need some tweaking. Also, since the stated objective is to learn more about the hosting end of things, I would recommend setting up a modest PC with Linux and going through the entire process of manually installing Apache, MySQL, and PHP; at which point you'll have the ever popular "LAMP" platform and have learned a lot about how it is set up and configured.

rulian

What is the best linux package for a host? I have to admit I could not keep up with all the commands and syntax in linux and had to have a GUI. Ubuntu was what I was working with last time, but I couldnt figure out how to get my dual display up and going.

bpat1434

Linux is simple to understand. Typically most Apache and PHP and other packages can be installed via the package-manager that's being used. For RedHat systems (Fedora, CentOS, RedHat) they use YUM and RPM. Debian uses aptitude or apt-get and sometimes synaptic, BSD I believe uses portage (I could be wrong).

But install Apache, with php and mysql is as easy as doing:

yum install httpd php php-* mysql mysql-devel

(Note that php-* will install all php extensions like ming, gd, imagemagick, etc.)

Then all you have to do is know (1) where your httpd.conf file is and (2) where your php.ini is. Then it's a matter of taking a couple hours and setting things up right.

Most servers today would be running a control panel anyway. I used to be a fan of cPanel since you could literally rebuild Apache, PHP and such inside of WHM; however, they use their bundled Apache. I now prefer Plesk since it literally sits on top of the server. So you update Apache and other system files through SSH and Plesk is just a spectator. So there's less difficulty.

If you really want to learn and have the time, I'd build it all by hand. One reason is so you learn about how to build it and if something goes wrong, you can easily fix it (or know how to rebuild it) as well as recompile extensions for it. Secondly, it will be more optimized for your system. Pre-built packages (installed via yum, apt-get, etc.) aren't optimized for your particular processor & chipset. Building from source would allow you to have that extra optimization (if any).

I haven't used Apples Xserve; however, it's a Mac operating system that is built on BSD. So I'm sure the build steps would be extremely close to those for BSD. But, if you don't know much, I wouldn't spend $3000 on a server... I'd rather spend a measley $150 or $400 for a used Dell or new Dell and then wipe it clean and start off that way. Or even just purchase a VPS or dedicated server from somewhere. Then once you know for a fact you can afford it, spend the money on the Xserve.

NogDog

The last time I did anything serious with Linux was a couple years ago, for which I used Suse Linux (version 10, I think?). It was the smoothest Linux installation I'd tried to that point, though I don't know how much of that was due to Linux's general maturation versus Suse's specific installation program.

Ubuntu seems to have a strong following these days, but I've not used it myself, yet, so have no comment.